Contractual clause bringing about a direct or indirect obligation causing the parties to an acquisition agreement, or at least one of them, not to manufacture, purchase, sell or resell independently goods or services which compete with the contract goods or services. Such an obligation on the seller of the assets guarantees that the acquirer receives the full value of the assets transferred and hence is normally considered as ancillary to the main agreement.

Source: Glossary of terms used in EU competition policy, Antitrust and control of concentrations, European Commission, 2002